Automatic rope take-up for leveler bars



July 3, 1928.

l. THOMAS ETAL AUTOMATIC ROPE TAKE-UP FOR LEVELER BARS Filad Feb. 26, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l 4 74% MMM Mv JNVENTO 0 M 1 Jim/w @ML ww a itonwn j July 3, 1928.

,l. THOMAS ETAL AUTOMATIC ROPE TAKE-UP FOR LEVELER BARS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 26, 1926 'idm za fin/tmmvm Patented July 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVOR D. THOMAS, ?ALMYRA, AND PAUL DOUGLAS, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE WELLMAN-SEAVER-MORGAN COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND,

OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

AUTOMATIC ROPE TAKE-UP FOR LEVELER BARS.

Application filed February 26, 1926. Serial No. 90,938.

This invention relates to coke oven levelers and more particularly to the mechanism by which reciprocating movements are imparted to the leveler bar.

In the operation of a coke plant it is essential that the charge of coal be leveled after it has been introduced into the oven chamber. This is usually accomplished by means of a leveler bar mounted on a car riage which travels along the front of the oven and adapted to be projected into the oven chamber near its topthrough a small door opening provided in the main oven door. The leveler bar is a long poker-like member built up of structural steel shapes and plates and is projected into and retracted from the oven by a suitable motor which drives a drum upon which is wound two ropes. one paying out while the other winds on the drum. Both ropes are connected to the leveler bar near its outermost end, one rope extending over a sheave on the frame adjacent the oven and serving to move the ram into the oven and the other passing over a sheave adjacent the outermost end of the leveler bar supporting frame and serving to retract the leveler bar. The usual operation of leveling a coal charge consists of running the leveler bar into an oven practically its full length and then reciprocating the bar-back and forth for a short portion of its stroke a number of times which action levels the coal. As the reversing motion of the bar is more or less sudden it is essential that no slack be allowed in either rope otherwise a whipping action would occur producing excessive strains on the ropes and thereby materially decreasing their life.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an efiective device for automatically keeping the bar operating, ropestaut and for taking up any stretch of ropes in such manner as to maintain at all times a certain constant pull on the ropes. A tension is preferably maintained upon the ropes by means of a counterweight acting upon one of the guide sheaves which is movably mounted, and one of the'objects of the present invention is to provide means in connection with the counterweight for lifting the same to release'tension on the ropes in order to permit them to be easily shortened or replaced.

A further object is to provide means in connection with the take-up device for preventing vibration of the take-up sheave during the operation of the leveler bar.

The leveler bar is preferably mounted in a horizontal guide frame which is adjustable vertically on the leveler bar supporting structure so that the leveler bar can be adjusted to the proper height for the battery of coke ovens with which the leveler is being used, and an important feature of the invention is the mounting of the rope takeup device entirely upon the leveler bar guide frame so that no adjustment of the take-up device is required when the height of the leveler bar changed.

The following description and accompanying drawings set forth certain means em bodying the invention, the disclosed means, however, constituting but one of the various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the leveler bar and its guide frame, the operating cables and the drum for operating the cables, together with a portion of the supporting structure upon which the leveler bar guide frame is mounted; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the rear end of the leveler bar guide frame and the cable take-up device mounted thereon; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the rear end of the guide frame showing the cable take-up device; Fig. is a section taken on line 4-4 ofFig. 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the only portions of the leveler bar supporting carriage shown are the supporting standards 1 which are arranged in pairs and receive the leveler bar guide frame 2 between them. The leveler bar guide frame 2 is adjustably supported between the standards by means of screws fixed at their lower ends to crossbar-s 4 of the guide frame and extending up through crossbars connecting upper ends of standards 1. The guide frame may be adjusted up and down by means of hand-wheels 6 which have threaded engagement with the screws 3 and bear upon the tops of the crossbars 5; by turning the hanthwheels 6 the guide frame 2 may be raised or lowered, and for posiers 9.

, bar while in the oven for levelling the.

The leveler bar is moved back and forth by means of operating cables 12 and 13, both'of which are anchored at one end to the leveler bar 10 adjacent the rear end thereof by means of a suitable anchoring clamp 14. The operating cable 12 extends over a guide sheave 15 journaled in a housing 16 attached to the forward end of the guide frame 2 and the operating cable 13 extends over a take-up sheave 17 journaled on a shaft 18 which is suspended by a pair of links 19 from the guide frame 2 adjacent the rear end thereof. Between the sheaves 15 and 17 grooved carriers 20 are provided for the operating cables immediately adjacent the underside of the leveler bar, the sag carriers 20 being mounted between the flanged supportingrollersS upon which the leveler bar rests. Both of the operating cables 12 and 13 extend to a winding drum 21 below the leveler guide frame, the cables being attached to the winding drum so that one cable winds up on the drum 'while the other is unwound therefrom. The winding drum 21 is operated by an electric motor or other suitable driving mechanism (not shown) .to'advance the leveler bar into an oven, to retract the bar from the oven and to impart the reciprocating motions to the charge of coal. I

' Means is provided-for exerting a constant outward pull upon'the movably mounted sheave. 17 sufficient to take up the slack in the cables 12 and 13 and to maintain these cables at all times under tension. The outward pull on the sheave 17 is exerted by a coimterweight lever pivotally mounted upon a cross shaft 22 extending across the guide frame beneath the leveler bar outwardly of the sheave 17. This counterweight lever consists of a segment shaped counterweight 23 which has an integral laterally projecting sleeve 24 though which the shaft 22 extends, the sleeve 23 having a pair of spaced arms 25 integral therewith between which is pivoted the outer end of a link-26 which strad- 'dles the take-up sheave 17 and is connected to the shaft 18 ofthe sheave upon opposite sidesof the sheave The weight of the arm 23 of the lever tends to swing the same downwardly from the position shown in liigs. 1 and 3 and,-through the arm 25 and link 26, exerts an outward pull on the sheave 17. The segment shaft counterweight arm 23 has ratchet teeth 23 formed on the periphery thereof and a holding pawl 27 is provided which is engageable with the ratchet teeth 23 to prevent 'upward movement of the arm 23; the holding pawl 27 is pivoted upon a shaft 28 carried by the guide frame 2 and has a laterally projecting pin 29 bywhich it may be operated as will be presently explained. The pawl 27 is also formed integrally with a second holding pawl 30 which is so positioned with respect to the pawl 27 that it is held out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 23 while the pawl 27 is in engaging position. One or the other of the pawls 27 or 30 may be yieldingly held in engagement with the ratchet teeth 23 by means of a weighted arm 31which is pivoted upon the shaft 28 and is provided on opposite sides thereof with engaging shoulders 31 and 31". hen the weighted arm is at one side of the pivot shaft 28 it is held by gravity with its shoulder 31 in engagement with the pin 29 and yieldingly holds the pawl 27 in engagement with the ratchet. When the arm 31 is swung to the opposite side of the pivot 28 the shoulder 31 engages with pin 29 and holds the pawl 27 out of engagement with the ratchet and the pawl 30 yieldingly in engagement therewith. The pawl 27 prevents upward movement of the arm 23 and the pawl 30 is designed to prevent down ward movement of the arm 23. The pawl 27 is kept in engagement with the ratchet While the leveler bar is being operated and serves to prevent any upward movement of the counterweight arm which. cause slackening of the cables. Sudden jerks on the operating cables in the operation of the leveler bar tend to pull the take-up sheave inwardly and raise the counterweight and were itnot for pawl 27 would set up a vibratory movement of the take-up sheave and counterweight and a whipping action on thecables. The pawl 30 serves to'hold the counter-weight arm 23 in a position to which it. may be lifted and is used whenever it is desired to slack the cables in order to shorten them or to replace them.

The counterweight arm 23 must be heavy enough to keepithe cable 13 taut at all times during the operation of the leveler. Since the weight of the lever 23 is too great to permit of its being conveniently lifted by hand, meansis provided on the guide frame for jacking up the weight. This means consists of a lever 32 adapted to receive an operating handle and pivoted at 33 to the frame adjacent the periphery of the ratchet 26, the lever 32 being provided with a pivoted pawl 34 which is adapted to be swung into a position in which it engages with the ratchet as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. Whenever it is desired to slacken the cables the Weigl-it 31 is swung.rearwardly to bring the shoulder 31" into engagement with pin 29 on the pawl 27, shifting the pawl 27 out of engagement with the ratchet and the pawl 30 into engagement therewith. The pawl 34, is then swung into ratchet engaging position and the lever 3:2 operated to shift. the ratchet upwardly, one tooth at a time, the pawl 30 holding the ratchet after each actuation in the position into which it has been shifted by the lever and, after the cables are suiliciently slack. retaining the counterweight while the desired operations are being performed on the cables. lVhen the leveler bar to be operated the weighted arm 31 will lJG.pOSl'tlOl10d with the shoulder 31 in engagement with the pin 29 to yieldingly hold I the pawl 27 in engagement with ratchet 23 so that the weight of the arm 23 acts to hold the cables taut and the weighted arm is held against upward movement from any position to which it moves by gravity, so that vibratory motions can not be imparted to thetalteup sheave in the operation of the device.

Having described our invei JD, we claim: 1. In a device of the character described, a reci 'irocating member, a suppoi f irame having a guideway for said member, sheaves adjacent opposite ends of said guideway, a winding drum, operating cables, each attached one end to said member, extending over one of the sheaves and attached at the opposite end to said drum, a movable support for one of said sheaves, means for taking up slack in the cables comprising a counterweighted lev r pivoted to the frame and connected to said movable sheave support, and means engageable with said lever to hold the same in adjusted positions.

2. In a device of the character described, a reciprocating member, av supporting frame having a guideway for said member, sheaves adjacent opposite ends of said guide *ay, a winding drum, operating cables, each attached at one end to said member, extending over one of the sheaves and attached at the opposite end to said drum, a movable support for one of said sheaves, a. ratchet connected to said lever and a pawl acting on said ratchet to prevent movement of the lever in a direction to loosen the cables.

8. In a coke oven leveler, a supporting structure, a horizontal guide frame mounted for vertical adjustmenton said structure, a reciprocable leveler bar mounted in said frame, guide sheaves mounted on said guide frame adjacent opposite ends thereof, a winding drum mounted on said supporting structure independently of said guide frame, operating cables each attached at one end to said drum passing over one of said sheaves and attached at its opposite end to the leveler bar adjacent the rear end thereof, means for movably supporting one of the sheaves, and means for keeping the cables taut comprising a counterpoise mounted on the adjustable frame and connected to the movable sheave support.

at. In a coke oven leveler, a supporting structure, av horizontal guide frame mounted for vertical adjustment on said structure, a reciprocable leveler bar mounted in said frame, guide sheaves mounted on said frame adjacent opposite ends thereof, one of said sheaves being movable longitudinally of the frame, operating cables passing over said sheaves and each attached at one end to the leveler bar adjacent the rear end thereof, means on the structure for operating said cables to reciprocate the leveler, meansfor maintaining the cables taut comprising a counter-weighted lever pivoted on the guide frame and connected to the movable sheave, and means for lifting said lever and for ret aining the same in adjusted positions.

5. In a coke oven leveler, a supporting structure, a horizontal guide frame mounted for vertical adjustment on said structure, a rcciprocrble leveler bar mounted in said frame, guide sheaves mounted on said frame adjacent opposite ends thereof, one of said sheaves being movable longitudinally of the frame, operating cables passing over said sheaves and each attached at one end to the leveler bar adjacent the rear end thereof, means on the structure for operating said cables to reciprocate the leveler, means for maintaining the cables taut comprising a counterweighted lever pivoted on the guide frame and connected to the movable sheave, and means for lifting the lever counterweight to slack the cables.

6. In a coke oven leveler, a supporting structure, a. horizontal guide frame mounted for vertical adjustment on said structure, a reciprocable leveler bar mounted in said frame, guide sheaves mounted on said frame adjacent opposite ends thereof, one of said sheaves being movable longitudinally of the frame, operating cables passing over said sheaves and each attached at one end to the leveler bar adjacent the rear end thereof, means on the structure for operating said cables to reciprocate the leveler, means for maintaining the cables taut compris ing a counterweighted lever pivoted on the guide frame and connected to the movable sheave, a ratchet connected to said lever, a pawl carried by said frame and engageable with said ratchet to prevent movement of the lever in a direction to loosen the cables, means for holding said pawl in an inoperative position, and means for lifting the lever counterweight to slack the cables.

7. In a coke oven leveler, a supporting structure, a horizontal guide frame mounted for vertical adjustment on said structure, a reciprocable leveler bar mounted in said frame, guide sheaves mounted on said frame adjacent opposite ends thereof, one of said sheaves being movable longitudinally of the frame, operating cables passing over said sheaves and each attached at one end to the leveler bar-adjacent the rear end thereof, means on the structure for operating said cables to reciprocate the leveler, means for -maintaining the cables taut comprising a engagement with the ratchet and the other pawl out of engagement, and a lever pivoted on the frame and having a pawl engageable with the ratchet to turn the same in a direction to lift the lever counterweight.

8. In a device of the character described,

a 'abletightener comprising a frame, a

sheave movably mounted on the frame, a lever having an arm connected to said sheave, and a segment shaped counterweight arm provided with ratchet teeth, a pawl engage'able with said ratchet teeth to prevent upward movement of thecou'nterweight arm,

and'means for yieldably pressing said pawl against the ratchet.

9. In a device of the characterdescribed,

a cable tightener comprising a frame, a sheave movably mounted on the frame, a lever having anarm connected to said sheave, and a segment shaped counterweight arm provided with ratchet teeth, a pawl engageable with said ratchet teeth to prevent upward movement of the counterweight arm, and means for holding said pawl out of engagement with the ratchet, and means carried by the frame for swinging said counterweight arm upwardly.

10. In a deviceof the character described, a cable tightener comprising a frame, a shezWc movably mount-ed on the frame, a lever having an arm connected to said sheave, and a segment shaped counterweight arm provided with ratchet teeth, a pawl engageable with said ratchet teeth to prevent upward movement of the counterweight arm, a second pawl engageable with the ratchet teeth to prevent downward movement of the counterweight arm, means for holding either one of the pawls in yielding engagement with the ratchet and the other out of engagement therewith, and a lever carried by said frame and having a pawl engageable with the ratchet teeth to move the counterweight arm upwardly.

In testimony whereof, we hereunto affix our signatures.

IVOR D. THOMAS. PAUL H. DOUGLAS. 

